Class Re 460 Electric Locomotive

By Train through Europe You once traveled luxuriously in the TEE from Munich to Paris or from Zürich to Milan. In 1st class of course. Yet even this concept became outdated. The European railroad managements had to act decisively to remain competitive with road and air. Travel in Europe had changed. More members in the European Union and consequently open borders provided new challenges. For international trains were in demand more than ever. Indeed, as early as the beginning of 1980, there were international connections through Europe. However, they still did not run with the names EC, but rather as IC trains. The result of the first years was thoroughly enjoyable. Consequently, the member states of the European Union including the SBB and ÖBB decided to set up a quality network. A new product was soon born, the EuroCity/EC trains. A new logo was also developed, because previously international trains were not so clearly recognizable. May 31, 1987 marked the start. Certain quality standards were to be maintained by the participating railroad managements. A train thus had to have a dining car or at least a bar car. The 1st and 2nd class cars had air conditioning. The staff was also specially trained. The network grew and grew and was highly accepted by the public. Several EC trains even currently run the magnificent SBB panorama cars as a quite special highlight, such as the "Transalpin" on its run from Zürich to Graz. EC trains were once seen with panorama cars even on the good old Gotthard mountain line. A trip with them through the wonderful world of the Alps to the sunny South must surely have been a quite special travel experience.